Exclusive interview with Malhar Talwalkar about Pink Trees (Short Movie)

By Jean-Paul Eliard
The 25 September 2025

Hi Malhar, I am very happy to do this interview.

Could you introduce yourself to the visitors of cinema-movietheater.com?

Hello, My name is Malhar Talwalkar. I am from a small town called Palghar in India. Since a very young age, I have been fascinated by movies.
I watched hollywood films and didn’t really understand the language quite yet but the pictures themselves were a big escapism from my small world.

What inspired you to create Pink Trees, and when did you first feel that this story needed to be told?

I am a recovering addict. I wanted to express my struggles with addiction and recovery.
I also wanted to portray how different people and their different life circumstances contribute positively or negatively to their recovery.

The film explores addiction recovery in an environment marked by poverty, crime, and unstable housing.

Why was it important for you to show these social and environmental factors alongside the personal struggle of addiction?

I spent a better part of a year during pre-production researching and meeting people in Los Angeles.
People who have dealt with severe addictions and some who were still addicted.
It is undeniable that socio-economic factors contribute to addiction. To exclude them out of this story would have been unfaithful in my opinion.

Your own experience with substance abuse and addiction gave you a personal connection to this subject.
How did that experience influence the way you approached the story and the character of Matthew “Job” Smith?

It made it quite easy to write the character dramatically in some ways but in many other ways it was quite challenging as I was putting my own demons on page and on the screen not only through the protagonist but also through the other two leads.
I thought it would be quite a healing experience but it turned out to be more revealing.

Recovery is often portrayed as a straightforward journey, but Pink Trees presents it as uncertain and fragile.
What message did you want audiences to take away from this portrayal of recovery?

I wanted to purposefully portray recovery as a path through the woods at night when you have to flashlight. All you have are your instincts, which can sometimes lead you astray.
There are many factors out of one’s control that affect their recovery. It was quite important to me to talk about the fragility of recovery.

Los Angeles is more than just a setting in the film; it seems to become part of the story itself.
How did the city and its social realities influence your visual approach and cinematography?

Typically Los Angeles is portrayed as a sunny paradise. We wanted to go the complete opposite direction and portray the side I experienced the most. The grime and the urban decay.
So that influenced our decisions about lighting, framing, colors and camera movement. The locations we chose played a big part in that.

As both the director and cinematographer, how did you use camera work, lighting, and visual atmosphere to make the audience feel the tension and uncertainty surrounding Job's life?

We wanted a very observational camera. We wanted the camera to represent the character's emotional journey.
Every camera movement was decided based on the emotional spine of the scene.

Pink Trees has already received recognition from numerous independent film festivals.
What has been the most meaningful reaction or response you have received from audiences or festival juries so far?

The most meaningful response has been a gentleman who walked up to me after a screening and told me “This one will stick with me for a while”.

After Pink Trees, what kind of stories would you like to explore next, and has making this film changed the way you see your role as a filmmaker?

I wanted to explore a story in similar socio-economic conditions but in a longer form. It is a feature called ‘Heaven Don’t Answer’ that is currently in final stages of post-production.

What is your next challenge / project?

My next project is a horror feature film. It is challenging as I have never attempted a genre, much less a genre with such fierce competition.

Do you have anything else you'd like to add?

Always tell a story that flies straight out of your heart. Chase artistry not vanity.

Thank you very much for your interview Malhar, I wish you the best.

More information about Malhar on Instagram, on IMDb and on Speak